Springboks arch-rival Israel Folau playing for Australia

Former Australian fullback and legendary Springboks rival Israel Folau be playing for Tongs in the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Photo: EPA/JAN TOUZEAU

CLOSER LOOK: Players who could capitalise on World Rugby shake up

Israel Folau and Malakai Fekitoa are among those who could capitalise on the groundbreaking World Rugby decision on Test eligibility.

Springboks arch-rival Israel Folau playing for Australia

Former Australian fullback and legendary Springboks rival Israel Folau be playing for Tongs in the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Photo: EPA/JAN TOUZEAU

On Wednesday, World Rugby dramatically approved a Test eligibility change to allow players to switch nationality after a three year stand-down period.

READ | WORLD RUGBY APPROVES TEST ELIGIBILITY CHANGE!

The amendment to the sport’s regulations governing national team representation will now permit an international player to transfer once from one union to another subject to demonstrating a close and credible link to that union via birth right.

From 1 January, 2022, in order to transfer from one union to another under the revised Regulation 8 (eligibility), a player will need to achieve the below criteria:

  • The player must stand-down from international rugby for 36 months
  • The player must either be born in the country to which they wish to transfer or have a parent or grandparent born in that country
  • Under the revised Regulation 8 criteria, a player may only change union once and each case will be subject to approval by the World Rugby Regulations Committee to preserve integrity

After 1 January 2022, any player who meets the above criteria can apply immediately for a transfer.

What a hypothetical XV could look like after World Rugby ruling:

15 Charles Piutau (could switch to Tonga from New Zealand)

14 Israel Folau (Tonga, from Australia)

13 Tevita Kuridrani (Fiji, from Australia)

12 Ngani Laumape (Tonga, from New Zealand)

11 Malakai Fekitoa (Tonga, from New Zealand)

10 Lima Sopoaga (Samoa, from New Zealand)

9 Morgan Parra (Portugal, from France)

8 Nathan Hughes (Fiji, from England)

7 Jordi Murphy (Spain, from New Zealand)

6 Don Armand (Zimbabwe, from England)

5 Steven Luatua (Samoa, from England)

4 Vaea Fifita (Tonga, from New Zealand)

3 Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen (Samoa, from New Zealand)

2 Agustin Creevy (Italy, from Argentina)

1 Alec Hepburn (Australia, from England)

The benefits of the amendment include:

  • Simplicity and alignment: transfers are currently permitted in the context of participation in the Olympics in the sevens game. This amendment will create one aligned, simplified process across the game
  • Development of emerging nations: the player depth of emerging nations may be improved by permitting players, who have close and credible links to the “emerging union” through birth or ancestry, to “return” to those unions having previously represented another union
  • Player-focused approach: the process recognised the modern rugby environment, including global player movement, the current ability to capture players by selecting them on the bench, and the desire of some players to transfer having been selected a limited number of times for one union. It also examined the impact of any change on the integrity of the international competition landscape.

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